SOME FACTORS IN WORKERS' DECISIONS TO FOREGO RETRAINING, PROGRESS REPORT OF A STUDY IN METROPOLITAN TORONTO. PAPER PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL SEMINAR ON ADULT EDUCATION RESEARCH (CHICAGO, FEBRUARY 11-13, 1968).

ABBEY, DAVID S.

TO DETERMINE HOW TO MOTIVATE ADULTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ACADEMIC AND TECHNICAL TRAINING AVAILABLE TO THEM IN METROPOLITAN TORONTO, TWO GROUPS OF WORKERS WERE INTERVIEWED--27 APPLICANTS TO CANADIAN MANPOWER CENTRES WHO HAD REJECTED RETRAINING ("REFUSER" SAMPLE), AND 46 WHO HAD ACCEPTED BUT FAILED TO APPEAR AFTER THEY RECEIVED THEIR CALL-UP LETTERS ("NO-SHOW" SAMPLE). OF THE "REFUSER" SAMPLE, CRITICAL FACTORS FOR REFUSING WERE THE LENGTH OF TIME BEFORE TRAINING AND LACK OF MONEY. OF THE "NO-SHOW" SAMPLE, FEW REFERRED TO DESIRE FOR HIGHER INCOME, MOST SAW THE ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AS ASSURANCE OF REGULAR OR MORE DESIRABLE EMPLOYMENT, ABOUT HALF WERE UNWILLING TO MOVE FROM THE CITY FOR A JOB, AND NONE REFERRED TO DESIRE TO ACQUIRE SKILLS IN DEMAND BY EMPLOYERS. REASONS FOR NOT APPEARING INDICATE POOR COMMUNICATION, SUCH AS LANGUAGE DIFFICULTY. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS BE MORE ADEQUATELY DESIGNED FOR EFFICIENT TRANSFORMATION OF WORKERS INTO STUDENTS BEFORE CREATING FURTHER DEMAND FOR RETRAINING. THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL SEMINAR ON ADULT EDUCATION RESEARCH, CHICAGO, FEBRUARY 11-13, 1968. (PT)